Month Mark

What a week!

This week was amazing! 

This week our branch had a baptism! The sisters have been teaching T for a couple months and she was baptized and confirmed this weekend. She's a 20-year-old student from Azerbaijan who found the sisters as she was coming off a train. She approached Sister Poklinkowska and said she was looking for truth. As soon as the sisters started teaching T, her testimony began to grow - she was so prepared - she's great! 

Her baptism was Saturday night. First we all met at the chapel, some sisters in the branch arrived early and decorated the Christmas tree and Sister Bown and Poklinkwoska had set everything up for the baptism so it all looked so good. Most of the branch came as well as M and A (investigators) so it was a great turn out. Sister C spoke on baptism and O spoke on the Holy Ghost. Sister C so bold, simple, and testified by the Spirit that it was so powerful. O was honest, relatable, and also testified by the Spirit. Their testimonies were so strong and I felt the Holy Ghost so piercingly. We may not have the most members here in Wroclaw or Poland but we have quality. They are solid members who strengthen my own testimony. It got me excited to find and teach people, to have them be able to testify with such conviction. Plus it was all in English since T is better at English than Polish, that was nice, although they were translated on the spot which actually really helped with my Polish (we'll get to that later.) We then all walked over to the pool. (I wonder what people think of us doing baptisms in a pool here, usually we have a font in our buildings but not here so it's kind of fun!) President Z, the district president, performed the baptism and Starszy Godwin and I were witnesses. She came out of the water in tears, it was a great event. We then returned to the chapel to close the meeting and have refreshments. I got to talk with T a little afterwards. I asked her how she felt to which she said refreshed and "light." It reminded my of my favorite scripture in Matthew 11:28-30 about how Christ makes our burdens "light" as we take His yoke upon us. The blessings that we receive are endless. It was such a great night for us missionaries, for the Branch, and for T. 

Just a little update for the mission baptisms: since I've been her we've had 5. The first three weeks ago, another two weeks ago and then three this past Saturday! The work is rolling along even in Poland!

Yesterday in church she was confirmed but President C, our branch president, with us missionaries and M (the one Melchezedick priesthood holder in the branch besides Pres or Pres Z) stood in the circle. With it T received a great blessing. I'm so excited for her, the gift of the Holy Ghost is so divine and has been such a blessing in my life.

I also had a really good talk with M yesterday after sacrament meeting. We aren't teaching him right now but he's still coming to church, family home evening, and even Tamara's baptism. 

He asked me how I could say that I "know" that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I shared my testimony of prayer and being willing to accept God's will and answers even if it's hard (which it often is.) I also invited him to read the Book of Mormon more often and sincerely to gain a testimony of the essentials because he has a lot of doubts. I have question and even doubts sometimes, which I told him. I said questions aren't bad as long as they lead to truth. I went on to explain that we need to humbly be searching for answers. The questions or doubts I have don't shake my testimony because of the basic truths I've grown to know. I told him that he needs to gain experience of listening to the Holy Ghost to know the most important truths, that's what matters most. I know that he is searching and I hope he finds truth and peace.

J was at church yesterday and he said he would be free to meet this week but couldn't give a concrete time so we are calling him today. We still have never officially met with him although he was at the Lloyd's house for Thanksgiving dinner. He seems great and I'm excited to get to know him more.

Polish is still hard. My speaking has improved but my understanding is still lagging quite a bit. I've had several stress dreams about arriving at the end of my mission and not knowing Polish. I know perfection isn't the goal and it will come with time and a lot of hard work so I'm trying not to be too discouraged. 

This week I also was able to set some concrete goals and organize myself. I've been thinking a lot about who I want to be at the end of my mission. Recently I've been trying to figure out how to change to be the person I want while keeping the attributes I want. 

Life is good, I'm happy. The Christmas season is great. It makes me a little sad not to be home but there is still so much joy and holiday Spirit here. Enjoy it :)

Starszy Kimball